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Top 5 Physician Resume Writing Mistakes – 9/19/2012

Hiring managers receive numerous resumes. The resume must catch the hiring manager’s eye so that he or she wants to read it instead of moving on to the next one. A good resume opens the door for an interview; a bad resume closes the door. Physicians can increase their chances of getting the job interview by avoiding the top five most common resume writing mistakes.

1. Inconsistent Citations

Your published work is a key component of a good resume. This shows the quality and currency of your work. Remember to include related published materials, like contributions to books, even if the contribution was minor. This demonstrates you are a team player. Under a separate heading, include presentations at conferences. Depending on how traditional your prospective employers are, think about new technology as well. Some doctors have used YouTube presentations and eBooks to support their publications list with forward-thinking employers. Finally, make sure you are up to date with AMA style. A sloppy resume with inconsistent citations will almost certainly not make the cut.

2. Unexplained Gaps

Leaving unexplained gaps in a resume is another common mistake. If a physician has unexplained gaps in work history, the hiring manager might conclude that the physician is unreliable. Instead of listing the work history and hoping the gaps go unnoticed--which is a bad tactic because they will be noticed--an explanation should be listed. Going abroad for volunteer work, traveling with a spouse, or whatever the reason, it should be listed.

3. Not Standing Out

A resume that is just cut and dry, listing only the basic job history, does not stand out from the rest. In the April 2005 issue of CAP Today, Dr. O’Neill says that he prefers physicians’ resumes that list some personal information. He says this information can tell him if the person is good at balancing work and home life or is a good multitasker. This is not saying that every personal detail should be listed. A resume is not a biography. Instead, it should be viewed as a snapshot that highlights the main parts of the physician's work and personal life. The personal section of the resume should list major accomplishments, including books or journals he or she has written, and include a brief paragraph about their personal life, such as married with two children and a marathon runner.

4. Lying

It can be tempting to place a little lie or two in a resume, but it is never a wise idea to give into that temptation. Lies can and are discovered. One false entry, even if it is small, is a quick way to get a resume thrown in the reject pile. It is far better for physicians to focus on their strengths than to fabricate experience. Physicians that have little experience can highlight volunteer work, awards, and other achievements to make up for a lack of employment experience.

5. Keywords

In this age of the Internet and software applications, physicians have to be keyword savvy. Recruiters search for applicants on the Internet using keywords. They also scan hard copy resumes sent to them into OCR software that scans for keywords to identify the best applicants. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends using eight to 10 keywords in a resume. A physician should think about what his or her potential employers are searching for to figure out the keywords. Keywords can be professional credentials, education levels, job titles, or anything else that is relevant to the job.

A physician’s resume is one of the most important aspects for gaining employment. Physicians should spend the time to get it right. Hiring a professional editor or resume writer can be helpful. In the very least, a physician should have an associate proofread the resume for mistakes. A second set of eyes may just be what the doctor ordered for getting the resume in tiptop shape.